Aralsk
Aralsk (Kazakh: Арал= Aral, Russian: Аральск = Aral'sk) Template:Coor dm is a small city in Kazakhstan.
Arask is the main Northern gateway to the Aral Ecological Disaster Zone.
There are serious health problems for tourists and the local population, caused by airborne toxic chemicals exposed to the wind by the retreating waters and, possibly, from chemical and biological agents unsafely stored on islands in the Aral Sea.
Population:
(1960) > 100,000 (including tourist)
(2007) < 40,000.
There is a high level of unemployment.
Since the retreat of the Aral Sea, after diversion of the rivers flowing into it for irrigation, Aralsk is now completely landlocked about 25 km from the sea. In 1980 the Aral Sea could be seen from the town.
Aralsk has greatly diminished in population and socioeconomic significance.
Aralsk was formerly a fishing port and harbour city on the banks of the Aral Sea, and was a major supplier of fish to the neighboring region. Like the town of Moynaq to the south of the Aral Sea, it now has discarded rusting fishing boats sitting on what used to be the bed of the Aral Sea.
